20 Mar How to Become a Certified Tower Climber

How to Become a Certified Tower Climber

Tower climbers are professional technicians who perform inspections, maintenance and repair work on guyed, monopole and self-supporting towers and other tower systems. There are several types of tower climber jobs, such as working on broadcast (television), radio towers, wireless internet service providers (WISP) or cell phone and microwave relay towers.

What Do Tower Climbers Do?

Tower climbers perform installation, regular inspections / tests, and maintenance of antennas or other transmitter systems. The climbing component is only one aspect of the job. A professional tower climber is expected to be skilled in communications technology, cable splicing and more. Tower climbers for cell phone companies such as AT&T and Verizon should also know the industry standard wiring methods for equipment.

Some tower climber jobs involve lifting and hauling heavy objects and tools up to the proper installation height on the tower. Those specialized tower climbers are known as riggers.

If you are new to the industry, then getting certified as a basic Competent Climber can be a great step to take as it not only provides fundamental knowledge / techniques, but also shows initiative and a commitment to working in this industry. Keep in mind that, although the skills learned are portable, the certification generally is not, contact one of our expert training advisors to learn more.

What to Expect as a Tower Climber?

Outdoor Environment
Many tower climbers have a background in rock climbing and enjoy working outdoors. These traits are essential as your job is often 200 to 500 feet above the ground when in the field, and you will face all kinds of weather, including rain, snow, wind and extreme temperatures.

Frequent Traveling Schedule
Travel is often a big component of a tower climber job. Here is a rough breakdown of travel percentage between different types of tower jobs:

80% of travel anticipated, if you work for a carrier

50% of travel anticipated, if you work on broadcast towers

20% of travel anticipated, if you do local maintenance and repair

Good Physical Condition
Although tower climbers do not need to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, you must be in good physical condition. The nature of tower climbing is tough to begin with. Tower technicians work at height for hours at a time and must have the strength and energy to make it safely back to the ground when the work is finished. Don’t forget, the equipment needed to complete a job must be brought to the site, either on the climber’s harness or through various hoisting options – this equipment can add 100 pounds or more to the load.

Enjoy the View on Top of the Towers
One of the best perks, according to many elite tower climbers, is the breathtaking view from the top and the satisfaction of a job well done. Below are just a few examples of the gravity-defying photos taken on top of towers:

“In some ways, climbing in the clouds is comforting. You can no longer see how high off the ground you are.”

Greg McDonald

Ty

We recommend you check wirelessestimator.com for job openings around the country. In the mean time one of our staff will be in contact. Feel free to give us a call should you have any questions! 1.800.485.7669.

Ty

Thanks for checking. We offer certifications in climbing, rescue and other related topics. One of our training coordinators will be in touch with you soon. We recommend http://www.wirelessestimator.com for job listings.

Stay Safe,

Elliot Hauber

I love the adrenaline rush of heights, as well as the aspect of climbing to maintain towers. I have been looking into this career for a while. No experience in the field but would love to learn! It’d be great to speak with a representative!

Jeffrey W. Howell

I’m interested in climbing and joining a team to where I can be part of the stratosphere of earth and hopefully make a career out of it. Please feel free to give me a call/email on how to get started today. I have 15+ construction years of experience and is very interested.

Matthew Reynolds

Ty

Thanks for reaching out! There are many great industry resources, we recommend you start by checking out the “job boards” at WireessEstimator.com you can search for open positions or post a position you’re interested in. Also, check out InsideTowers.com. Naturally, there are many other industry resources but both of these are a great place to start.

If you want to “get your feet wet” and see what climbing is all about give us a call at 800.485.7669 or shoot us an email, we’re happy to help!